It’s a bird! It’s a plane! It’s... Enoch!

“You may not be able to save the whole world, but to one life, you may be the world.”

- Enoch Ntiri Kwakye

Not all heroes wear capes – sometimes they wear a red sweater.  

One afternoon in late August, Marek Windonski, a father of three, began feeling discomfort in his foot before collapsing during a stroll through the ByWard Market and losing consciousness. 

In the following minutes of total darkness, Marek was unaware that three bystanders had rushed to his aid with remarkable composure and presence of mind: Nicholas Firman, another individual who remains unknown, and Enoch Ntiri Kwakye, a ByWard Market District Authority (BMDA) Ambassador. 

After calling 911, and while the unidentified bystander began CPR, Nicholas sprinted to the ByWard Market Heritage Hall, where he met Enoch. Without hesitation, Enoch grabbed an AED (automated external defibrillator) and hurried back to the scene. 

Having recently completed first aid training, Enoch stayed calm and focused as he delivered the shock that brought Marek back to see the light again. 

By the time paramedics arrived, Marek had already regained consciousness, thanks to our heroes’ quick thinking and coordinated response. 

Like Enoch, every BMDA Day and Night Ambassador is trained in first aid and equipped to respond to emergencies like this one. 

We encourage everyone, whenever possible, to take first aid training — one day, your intervention might be what saves a life hanging in the balance.